Farm Feature: High Lawn Farm

KatsblogAugust 23, 2013

When it comes to milk, the fresher the better, and nothing is fresher than dairy from High Lawn Farm in Lee, MA. The last remaining, complete dairy farm in the Berkshires, High Lawn Farm has been producing, bottling and delivering milk locally since before 1900. In 1935, Marjorie Field Wilde and her husband George took over the operations of her family’s 1,500-acre farm, which their family still owns and operates today.

The owners aren’t the only ones with a family lineage at High Lawn Farm. Some of the cow families presently in the High Lawn herd are direct descendants of the original herd of 1918 from 15 generations ago. Instead of the typical large, black-and-white Holsteins used for dairy, Jersey is the only breed you’ll see at High Lawn Farm. The owners of High Lawn Farm even received the “Master Breeder” award from the American Jersey Cattle Club for their dedication to improving the breed. These smaller, brown cows use less land and resources, are more sustainable, and leave a smaller carbon footprint. Milk from Jersey cows is higher in protein, calcium and butterfat, making it richer in nutrients and flavor.

High Lawn prides itself on being a part of the local farming community and, in doing so, taking the best possible care of their cows. They partner with Berkshire Grown as well as Buy Local Food organizations to support and encourage local agriculture. Their cows feed off the farm’s fresh grass during the summertime. Wintertime feed comes directly from High Lawn’s own non-GMO corn and hay fields, and never includes animal by-products or hormones.

Dear folks at High Lawn Farm, I just wanted to say Thank YOU! for the work you do. I have been buying your milk and cream at my local Whole Foods store and will not buy anything else anymore. Your milk and cream actually have flavor! We were in England this summer and they know their way around dairy products. When we came home we were so disappointed in the thin flavor of our regularly available milk and cream. I was especially disheartened not to find anything resembling the delicious English double cream, with its deep, malty flavor. Then WF started carrying your products and even though there is no double cream, I’ve found the same delicious depth of flavor in your heavy cream. Even when I’ve kept the cream too long and it goes off, it smells like good cheese instead of some lab experiment.However, if you ever find it in your heart to try to produce an English-style double cream, I’ll be your first and best customer. Until then, you have a faithful customer in me. I just hope your products keep being available near me. Thank you again. Please pat your Jerseys for me. They deserve it!

Daphne, Newton, MA

The quality of High Lawn Farm’s heavy cream makes our homemade hot fudge sauce the silkiest and smoothest I’ve ever made. I’ve ended up having to increase the sizes of the batches to accommodate the demand.

Isle Barron, Senior Cook, Smith College

Helen, when I first met you a couple of years ago, you told me about the good health properties of High Lawn Farm’s products and I believed you and tried the butter first. It was very tasty and I like that there are no added hormones or antibiotics, this for me is a health issue. Next I tried the heavy cream and when I met you this last week, I traveled out just to get the High Lawn Farm cream. Why? Because of it’s ‘cleanliness’ and good flavor! I am Native American, so most of us don’t use much dairy, however, being part Irish and Cherokee I have a better tolerance to dairy and High Lawn Farm is the brand I chose over all in my area of Feeding Hills/Agawam. It is a great product and I have been buying High Lawn since you first told me about it. Thanks for the helpful information. I think more folks should try your dairy products and treat themselves to better health.

Rainbow, NS, Canada via web

It’s great to have such a long-lasting farm in this area. And they also support the community in the Berkshires.

–Dan Smith

I am so grateful to High Lawn Farm for having the best practices for milking cows. I am an animal lover, and it is wonderful to know that you care about the cows. As you know, they have feelings too.

Aurora, via web

High Lawn Farm milk is fresh tasting. I like the fact that they use no artificial growth hormones. I would like to add, I enjoy the fact that the company is family-owned since 1923 in the Berkshires. The milk is so tasty and has a fresh flavor. I look for High Lawn milk all the time.”